Michiganders who lost power in ice storm to see credit on their bills - eventually

Jan. 10, 2014

Written by

Associated Press

Thousands of Michigan residents who lost power during last month’s ice storm are getting jolted by their electricity bills.

Jennifer Earls told the Lansing State Journal that her $161 bill is too high. She and other utility customers received estimated bills.

“It feels as if we are kicked as we are already down,” said Earls, 36, of Lansing, who went days without power.

Officials with the Lansing Board of Water & Light and Consumers Energy said they are using estimated readings for many bills because the ice storm interfered with getting accurate meter readings. When utilities can’t get those readings, they sometimes rely on estimates largely based on the amount of power the consumer used for that month the previous year.

Lower bills should be on the way, though. Crews have resumed meter readings, and the utilities expect to issue more-accurate bills in the next cycle that will reflect reduced charges for those who lost power.

“We are receiving a number of inquiries, and we are attempting to respond to them from our customer service and Facebook,” said Lansing Board of Water & Light spokesman Steve Serkaian. “Customers ... will have a more accurate bill in the next bill and any appropriate cost reduction.”

Nearly 77,000 people lost power in the Lansing area — some for up to 11 days — following the Dec. 21-22 ice storm.